Western South Pacific: Click the link above for details. The above article is very interesting because of the depth of this particular earthquake. The quake is 81.6 KM deep, and is associated with a deep trench subduction zone, and is tectonic in nature. According to reports, this quake lasted a long time, but due to the depth, the shaking was weak. No tsunami warning has been issued at this time for other than the immediate area, where there may be a 1.3 meter wave.

Also the quake swarm near Hawthorne, Nevada and those in Imperial County, CA continue with micro-quakes. One thing of note is a swarm of small quakes at the east shore of Mono Lake, in a very highly localized area. With one quake, there is a possible magma harmonic waveform, as you can see above. Looks like a possible pipe, vent or dyke forming.

Mono Lake has a string of volcanos, with visible cones on the south and west shore. The string of volcanos continue from the lake on south to Lake Crawley. This string includes Mammoth mountain. I've been to the hot springs, near Lake Crawley, and have seen sulfur throughout the site. There is a lot of star obsidian in the area too, which is basically quickly cooled volcanic glass, but that which cooled slowly enough for some very basic crystals to form. The local Native Americans used to make weapon heads with this stone, and trade with it. For Indians, areas containing obsidian had been very valuable land for weapon building and trade, indeed!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The quake swarm near Hawthorne Nevada has eased, but is still going on. We are now seeing smaller quakes, now trending to the north slightly, and up a mountain. People in Hawthorne are reporting feeling the 3 point plus quakes when they happen. The above map shows the current number of quakes according to the USGS, but more quakes have actually happened.

Here are some comments from regular people that live near the Hawthorne, Nevada earthquake swarm, and other folks. This article also contains some likely explaining about the possible movement of magma.

I like the idea presented here that quake swarms can mean there is possible dyke formation within the crust by magma, and those harmonic swarms may be simply just that. New dykes forming. Especially if they subside and not breech the surface with an eruption. Often swarms that are not made up of harmonic tremors, but regular earthquakes, are new cracks being formed. Sometime, later, a new kind of swarm may kick in, where magma is on the move, filling in those cracks, creating new dykes and sills.

Far from the Nevada mountains, and in the Pacific, researchers are recording magma as it does it's thing. Here is a the sound of volcanic harmonic tremors generated underwater by an underwater volcano and picked up by an underwater mic. It's said this is the sound of magma on the move! It's that faint high pitched moan in this ocean recroding. You'll need quicktime to hear this sound. Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

We're in historic geologic times! It's very sad and scary but a time rich for science too. Here's an awesome article about the sound that was generated by the 9.0 earthquake in japan, and here is a recording of it. It is said to be the largest sound ever recorded!

Let's hear this in memory of those that died in this earthquake and Tsunami, and have a moment of silence and prayer after.

The earthquake swarm near Hawthorne Nevada continues, with smaller quakes than previously, but still very active. Here's an article about researchers going out to the site of the Nevada earthquake swarm, and setting up measuring and communications equipment, clearing snow off of roads. They are taking precautions and talking about evacuation plans if this swarm leads to anything significant.

There is talk of possible volcanism.

Some engineers and I are thinking of going up to the Hawthorn area to take a look.

Of note in my own local area, the Salton Buttes volcano continues to have many micro-quakes, more than usual. I'm keeping an eye on that activity, and visiting it. I've ben feeling many long lasting subtle tremors that do not show up on the USGS site, but does register on my i Seismo seis'llmogram i Phone app. A couple of other people in my area have also commented that they are feeling some slight shakes. I keep you all posted on that too.

Also, there has been talk among surfers along the Southern California coast, that it's time to put in a lot of surfing the next two years or so, before the debris from the Japan earthquake and Tsunami reaches the US west coast. Once it reaches our local beaches, it's very possible that surfing will be too hazardous, due to numerous planks, sheets of roofing and other debris in the water.

Hawaii is expected to be hit by the debris in about a year.

I remember as a little child, back in the early sixties, all the planks, glass fishing floats, nets, plastic things and tires that floated along the California coast. It did that for a few years. That was a time of some significant and tragic tsunamis too. What I saw as a kid was a combination of the unregulated pollution at the time and significant tsunami debris.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Here's the mainstream news telling us about the current earthquake swarm on the California-Nevada border. They claim it's an undiscovered fault. My question is, well, how about that big obvious lava flow you see even in the newscast's own Google Earth map, and the presence nearby, one can see on the same map - of Aurora Crater? And how does a mere fault kick off magma harmonic (volcanic) waveforms associated with most of these quakes? Hummm ...

I know. Being a skeptic on what 'they're' saying ...

Check out the harmonic tremors in these uploaded images and you tell me. Just observing.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

The waveforms created by many of the earthquakes at the Nevada earthquake swarm near Hawthorne Nevada show a typical pattern that a magma harmonic tremor would put out. What's a hormonic tremor? It is a kind of waveform most often associated with moving magma or other material within an active volcano. These waveforms are long, continuous, and look sort of like a bottle brush. A normal seismic waveform is a sharper event, one kicking on suddenly, building up to a peak and then letting down. These shorter waveforms are often associated with cracking within the earth.

In this video, I show the two types of waveforms and explain it. This will give you a good insight into the nature of the swarm of moderate earthquakes at the Nevada-California border.

Is Magma indeed on the move?

Already experts are rushing out there from Nevada's geoscience departments and are taking interest, as are many other researchers. This series of interesting events is rich for study!

Friday, April 15, 2011

I keep a i Seismo seismograph by me most of the time. This is a fun thing, but I have picked up local earthquakes on it, both big and small, and e-mailed them in for examination.

Here is a map showing potential ash fall in a volcano in the area were to erupt. This map is for the Long Valley volcanic system, which includes the Mammoth Mountain volcano. This system is close to our present swarm.

The Earthquake swarm continues at this very moment on the California-Nevada border, and at this time, according to the USGS, there has been about 117 earthquakes in total. That number will be higher while I type and post, for on average there is an earthquake every fifteen minutes. From my own counting of the USGS localized earthquakes map of the area, I have counted 7 earthquakes with 4 mag plus. I have also counted 13 earthquakes that are 3 to 3.9 mag. The depths are 28 miles to surface. There are now claims that this quake swarm is on a previously unknown fault. That is mentioned in one of the articles below. I'm still sitting on my guesswork that this activity is volcanic in nature, but we'll see with time as experts and events do their thing.

A side note, and I admit is not scientific, but a bit fun to note: I had a dream about new vents opening up at the Salton Buttes volcano in Southern California. I say fun not because I think eruptions are fun, I say fun because it seems I think about the Salton Buttes volcano enough to dream about it! I guess it's a part of my life, even during sleep...

About Me

Award winning filmmaker.
I write about geology, aerospace and also a novel series called the Diablo Diaries, featuring a whacky character named Prince Stephan. Also I produce and direct film, both feature and documentary. Working on a documentary about the eastern California rifting zone, and co-produced the movie Defcon 2012.
Serious publishers, agents, producers or serious questions, please E-mail us at: liechtensteinfilms@live.com